Items filtered by date: August 2022

Corns are spots that can form on the feet that are made up of thickened skin. Importantly, corns are distinct from warts and calluses. At their core, corns are hard and tough, yet are surrounded by skin that is inflamed. There are three different kinds of corns that may develop on your feet. The first is known as soft corns. This kind of corn primarily develops in between the toes of the feet. They might develop when friction occurs between the toes, typically caused by shoes with a small toe box. Soft corns also tend to be a white color. Soft corns are distinct from hard corns, the second kind of corn. Hard corns tend to develop on the flat, bony areas of the foot. In size, hard corns are both tiny and circular. A hard corn may develop in response to friction along with the inside of ill-fitting shoes. The third kind of corn is known as a seed corn, which can develop on the ball of the feet. Having corns may not seem consequential in some cases, but it is nothing to take lightly. Contact a podiatrist about your corns for treatment options. 

If you have any concerns regarding your feet and ankles, contact Dr. Mark Gagnon of Advanced Podiatry. Our doctor will treat your foot and ankle needs.

Corns: What Are They? and How Do You Get Rid of Them?
Corns can be described as areas of the skin that have thickened to the point of becoming painful or irritating. They are often layers and layers of the skin that have become dry and rough, and are normally smaller than calluses.

Ways to Prevent Corns
There are many ways to get rid of painful corns such as wearing:

• Well-fitting socks
• Comfortable shoes that are not tight around your foot
• Shoes that offer support

Treating Corns
Treatment of corns involves removing the dead skin that has built up in the specific area of the foot. Consult with Our doctor to determine the best treatment option for your case of corns.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Crestwood, Orland Park, and Summit, IL . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Some people are born with crooked toes, and others acquire them over time. Common types of crooked toes are curly toes, hammertoe, mallet toe, claw toe, overlapping toe, and adductovarus toe. Curly toes are generally congenital, where the third or fourth toe of the foot curls under the foot. A hammertoe has an imbalance in the ligaments, tendons, and muscles of the toe, causing the middle joint to pop up. In a mallet toe, the joint closest to the toenail pops up and curls under the foot. It may result from wearing shoes that are too tight or shoes with high heels. Claw toes bend under the foot, and may even dig into the sole of the foot. Aside from being painful, they can cause corns and calluses to form. An overlapping toe sits on top of the toe next to it. This may cause pain when wearing closed shoes and inhibit walking. An adductovarus toe tries to move beneath the toe next to it. This is more common in the fourth or fifth toe and can be a direct result of wearing shoes with a pointy toe box. If you have any of these toe deformities that are causing pain or inhibiting your daily activities, it is a good idea to consult with a podiatrist for treatment options.

Toe pain can disrupt your daily activities. If you have any concerns, contact Dr. Mark Gagnon of Advanced Podiatry. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

What Causes Toe Pain?

Most severe toe pain is caused due to a sports injury, trauma from dropping something heavy on the toe, or bumping into something rigid. Other problems can develop over time for various reasons.

Toe pain can be caused by one or more ailments. The most common include:

• Trauma
• Sports injury
• Wearing shoes that are too tight
• Arthritis
• Gout
• Corns and calluses
• Hammertoe
• Bunions
• Blisters
• Ingrown toenails
• Sprains
• Fractures (broken bones)
• Dislocations

When to See a Podiatrist

• Severe pain
• Persistent pain that lasts more than a week
• Signs of infection
• Continued swelling
• Pain that prevents walking

Diagnosis

In many cases the cause of toe pain is obvious, but in others, a podiatrist may want to use more advanced methods to determine the problem. These can range from simple visual inspections and sensation tests to X-rays and MRI scans. Prior medical history, family medical history, and any recent physical traumatic events will all be taken into consideration for a proper diagnosis.

Treatment

Treatments for toe pain and injuries vary and may include shoe inserts, padding, taping, medicines, injections, and in some cases, surgery. If you believe that you have broken a toe, please see a podiatrist as soon as possible.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Crestwood, Orland Park, and Summit, IL . We offer the newest diagnostic tools and technology to treat your foot and ankle needs.

The condition plantar fasciitis exists when the plantar fascia becomes inflamed. It is the band of tissue that is found on the bottom of the foot that can become torn or damaged from a foot injury. Additionally, it may happen from standing for most of the day, or from frequently walking on hard surfaces. Many people experience general foot pain with plantar fasciitis, and the foot may feel stiff and tender. It is beneficial to adjust daily living activities, and to temporarily stop doing what caused the pain. There are patients who find mild relief when specific foot exercises and stretches are performed, in addition to possibly wearing orthotics in their shoes. In severe cases, surgery may be a necessary option to repair the damaged portion of tissue. If you have heel pain, please confer with a podiatrist who can properly diagnose plantar fasciitis, and offer you correct treatment advice.

Plantar fasciitis is a common foot condition that is often caused by a strain injury. If you are experiencing heel pain or symptoms of plantar fasciitis, contact Dr. Mark Gagnon from Advanced Podiatry. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

What Is Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain. The plantar fascia is a ligament that connects your heel to the front of your foot. When this ligament becomes inflamed, plantar fasciitis is the result. If you have plantar fasciitis you will have a stabbing pain that usually occurs with your first steps in the morning. As the day progresses and you walk around more, this pain will start to disappear, but it will return after long periods of standing or sitting.

What Causes Plantar Fasciitis?

• Excessive running
• Having high arches in your feet
• Other foot issues such as flat feet
• Pregnancy (due to the sudden weight gain)
• Being on your feet very often

There are some risk factors that may make you more likely to develop plantar fasciitis compared to others. The condition most commonly affects adults between the ages of 40 and 60. It also tends to affect people who are obese because the extra pounds result in extra stress being placed on the plantar fascia.

Prevention

• Take good care of your feet – Wear shoes that have good arch support and heel cushioning.
• Maintain a healthy weight
• If you are a runner, alternate running with other sports that won’t cause heel pain

There are a variety of treatment options available for plantar fasciitis along with the pain that accompanies it. Additionally, physical therapy is a very important component in the treatment process. It is important that you meet with your podiatrist to determine which treatment option is best for you.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Crestwood, Orland Park, and Summit, IL . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Ingrown toenails are very uncomfortable afflictions of the feet. Usually affecting the big toe, ingrown toenails occur when the side of a toenail essentially grows into the skin surrounding the nail. As a result, the skin then covers the nail partially or completely at the side of the nail. Ingrown toenails can be very painful. This pain is only exacerbated if the ingrown toenail becomes infected, which can lead to redness and swelling in the affected area. There are several steps that you can take to prevent an ingrown toenail. For example, you can make sure that you are properly cutting your nails to keep them at an appropriate length, neither too long nor too short. You also could keep them cut in an appropriate shape, straight cut at the top instead of curved. You might even be sure that the shoes that you typically wear are spacious enough in the toe box and do not press against your toes. If you have an ingrown toenail or are concerned about getting one, consult with a podiatrist. 

Ingrown toenails can become painful if they are not treated properly. For more information about ingrown toenails, contact Dr. Mark Gagnon of Advanced Podiatry. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Ingrown Toenails

Ingrown toenails occur when a toenail grows sideways into the bed of the nail, causing pain, swelling, and possibly infection.

Causes

• Bacterial infections
• Improper nail cutting such as cutting it too short or not straight across
• Trauma to the toe, such as stubbing, which causes the nail to grow back irregularly
• Ill-fitting shoes that bunch the toes too close together
• Genetic predisposition

Prevention

Because ingrown toenails are not something found outside of shoe-wearing cultures, going barefoot as often as possible will decrease the likeliness of developing ingrown toenails. Wearing proper fitting shoes and using proper cutting techniques will also help decrease your risk of developing ingrown toenails.

Treatment

Ingrown toenails are a very treatable foot condition. In minor cases, soaking the affected area in salt or antibacterial soaps will not only help with the ingrown nail itself, but also help prevent any infections from occurring. In more severe cases, surgery is an option. In either case, speaking to your podiatrist about this condition will help you get a better understanding of specific treatment options that are right for you.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Crestwood, Orland Park, and Summit, IL . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

When dry skin, known as xerosis, occurs on the heels, it can be caused by a number of factors, such as wearing open-backed shoes, being overweight, or the constant rubbing of the heel within a shoe. Cracked skin also can be a sign of diabetes or neuropathy. Further causes include taking extra hot showers, using harsh soaps, cold weather, and standing for long periods. If dealt with early, dry or cracked heels can be lessened or even eliminated. Ignored, they may cause serious illness. In severe cases, cracked heels may become infected, causing cellulitis. A few easy treatments include soaking the feet in warm water, drying them completely, and applying moisturizer. It also may be good to use a pumice or nail file to gently scrub away the dead skin. Protect your feet from extreme heat, such as walking barefoot on hot sand or pavement. However, if your heels are severely cracked and painful, it is a good idea to make an appointment with a podiatrist for an exam and treatment as soon as possible.  

If the skin on your feet starts to crack, you may want to see a podiatrist to find treatment. If you have any concerns, contact Dr. Mark Gagnon from Advanced Podiatry. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Cracked Heels

It is important to moisturize your cracked heels in order to prevent pain, bleeding, and infection. The reason cracked heels form is because the skin on the foot is too dry to support the immense pressure placed on them. When the foot expands, the dry skin on the foot begins to split.

Ways to Help Heal Them

• Invest in a good foot cream
• Try Using Petroleum Jelly
• Ease up on Soaps
• Drink Plenty of Water

Ways to Prevent Cracked Heels

• Moisturize After Showering
• Skip a Shower
• Keep Shower Water Lukewarm
• Don’t Scrub Your Feet

If you are unsure how to proceed in treating cracked heels, seek guidance from a podiatrist. Your doctor will help you with any questions or information you may need. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Crestwood, Orland Park, and Summit, IL . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.